2024 Welcome Message

WELCOME 2024 HRACRE MEMBERS AND GUESTS

The first day of a new job is filled with a mix of excitement, enthusiasm, and perhaps just a little dose of fear. For better or worse, I am enjoying this mix of emotions for the first time since moving to Hampton Roads nearly 11 years ago. I was 30 years old and the only employee of a new branch office of my company, and I needed a lot of things: business contacts, personal contacts, momentum, billable revenue, and according to my wife, something to do outside of our shared home office. At the recommendation of a couple of locals I met early on, I joined HRACRE as it was touted to the best way to connect to the local commercial real estate market – which included a myriad of architects, fellow engineers, and contractors. HRACRE helped provide all of those things I was looking for and most certainly is one of the most influential decisions I made towards the future success of our move to Virginia. I am honored to be given the chance to attempt to pay some of that back as the 2024 President of HRACRE.

I probably fall at the top of the list of individuals who benefit from Bill Nusbaum’s work as the 2023 HRACRE President. The work he completed both seen and unseen truly places HRACRE in a position to excel for years to come, and I will do my best to keep us on the rails for our President-Elect Kelli Fox.

I firmly believe that HRACRE provides tremendous value to its membership and the commercial real estate industry in our region. To maintain and further this core function, some of my focus for 2024 will be centered on making sure we are asking our leadership as well as our members where they see the most benefit in their interaction with HRACRE. We must be able to continue to learn, adapt, and grow – something you will quickly see evidence of in some adjustments to our calendar of events for 2024. I will also be turning focus to our younger members and the Young Professionals Network to gain insight into their perspective on the value and opportunity for their participation both now and in the future.

I am excited for a great year with HRACRE, and while the continued presence of a puzzling economy and the natural anticipation and uncertainty that surrounds any presidential election year may at times present some challenges, I am confident that outstanding work of our committee volunteers and board members will produce another successful slate of events full of opportunities to find those things we all may need.

-

Bret Underwood
2024 HRACRE President